Las Totobias
We have decided to feature a few interesting properties that are for sale in the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata on the blog http://countryhouseforsale.wordpress.com.
View from Las Totobias
If you link to this blog you will find full details and many photos of this lovely country property.
Enquiries contact digmerry@gmail.com
Rambla del Granadino
This morning a sea mist rolled in over the coast so we took the dogs for a walk down the Rambla del Granadino near Las Hortichuelas Altas while it was cool.
Forest of bamboo
Water trickles along the floor of the rambla and at its source there is a forest of bamboo, full of birdlife.
Oleanders and poplars
Oleander
Further along, a blaze of pink oleanders and silvery white poplars line the water course.
Dianthus
Growing in the dry, rocky banks are little pink dianthus (Dianthus charidemi) endemic to this region.
Prickly pear growing out of a large boulder
The main building at the entrance to the gardens
Here are some photos of the Botanical Gardens in Rodalquilar taken during a brief visit last Thursday.
Prickly pears in the cactus area
Prickly pear flower
Strolling around the gardens
The gardens are quite colourful at the moment as the Jacaranda trees are in flower as well the prickly pear cacti and the pomegranate trees.
Diplademia trees
Also, there are some standard diplademia trees with glossy red flowers. Digby discovered some small specimens of these for sale, 3 for 1 euro, in the back of a van at Campohermoso market last week and they are doing very well on our terrace in pots.
Cactus flowers
The semi-arid landscape of Almeria, where water is a precious commodity, challenges gardeners. However, cacti and succulents, which require little watering, thrive here in the sunshine and it’s possible to create a really lovely garden with these and other drought tolerant plants.
Cactus planted in a hole in a volcanic rock with other mineral samples
Because cacti have very shallow roots, you can be creative when it comes to planting them out. Natural stones with holes in them – no shortage of these in the volcanic landscape of the Cabo de Gata- are ideal and set them off perfectly. Cacti need to be grouped together to make a feature, otherwise they look a bit lost. A rock garden shows them off to their best advantage.
This cactus came into flower this morning
Our local garden centre has a good selection of succulents and cacti and I buy the baby ones, which are not at all expensive. Larger specimens are available, but because cacti are slow-growing, they’re much dearer, naturally. I enjoy watching them grow and after about three years, when some varieties become quite large, I plant them out and replace the containers with new, baby ones.
These pink flowers only last a day
Cacti can produce the most spectacular flowers, such as these glorious, scented, pale pink ones (in the terracotta container) sprouting from disproportionately small cacti. Sadly, these last for only a few hours so I have to enjoy them while I can. Other flowers last for several days, closing up at night and opening again when the sun shines on them. I find that, if I feed my cacti regularly, they reward me with profuse flowering.
If you click on the photos they will enlarge
Rambla de Belen
This morning I went to Almeria to deal with some red tape and surprisingly got through this quickly which gave me time for a stroll in the city centre.
Old boys chatting
The Rambla de Belen, stretching from the port into the heart of the city, is a lovely, palm lined avenue. Here the citizens can enjoy a paseo or just pass some time relaxing and chatting on the benches.
Cyclists on the rambla
Cyclists too are able to use the wide avenue.
Approaching the sea
As I approached the sea I noticed that there was a lot of activity on the little beach between the marina and the ferry port.
Activity on the beach
School children, I presume enjoying their sports period, were playing netball or messing about in kayaks.
Kayaks and the jetty
This was a colourful sight against the backdrop of the blue sky and sea and dominating this scene is the old iron jetty that used to carry a continuation of the railway line out to sea.
Entrance to the marina
If you click on the photos they will enlarge.
The view from our home this morning
After a windy weekend the weather has settled again and as we have had so little rain the countryside on the estepa of the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata is looking parched and taking on the hues of summer.
Landscape with old aljibe
These photos were taken on our morning walk along the lanes and from outside our home. A sharp contrast from the green and flower filled images from early Spring.
Some goats we encountered along our country lane
In the lane outside Las Rozas 1984
This morning a harsh Poniente wind was blowing in from the west. It was not a Sunday for the beach so we decided to drive along the coast through Carboneras, Mojacar, Garrucha and Vera Playa. We had not visited this area since our return to Almeria last year and were horrified by the over- development along the coast which looks worse in the crisis because of abandoned projects and under- maintained urbanisations.
A door in Las Rozas 1984
Our first holiday in Spain was in 1984. We stayed in a large country house near Palomares, inland from the beach Vera Playa. The beach was idyllic then: a long stretch of sand with virtually no buildings and one little chiringuito. Today we had difficulty finding the beach as we had to wind our way through a maze of housing estates to get to it. The whole area had a run down look with untended gardens, properties in need of painting and general scruffiness.
Las Rozas today
We decided to look for the country house, Las Rozas, where we first stayed. Digby remarked that it was now probably a ruin. We had difficulty finding this, too, as the area approaching it was now covered with plastic greenhouses. We asked some locals the way and when we got there we were horrified to find that Las Rozas is, in fact, a ruin.
The swimming pool today
This fine building, once in ages past the house of the director of the nearby silver mines, is in a dreadful state of decay. The photos tell the story.
The restaurant today
In 1984 Las Rozas was a small campsite. In the main house were guest bedrooms, a restaurant and bar with a terrace and swimming pool outside.
Part of the grounds 1984
It was an idyllic, peaceful oasis and close to that once beautiful beach, Vera Playa.
Goats today
Now a herd of goats scramble over the grounds.
Sketching outside Las Rozas 1984
Afterwards, we went to the bar in the nearest village, Las Herrerias, for a tapa. We remembered that in 1984 the owner’s son, Martin, was soon to depart for his national service. We were pleased to find that Martin now runs the bar/restaurant which was doing brisk lunchtime trade. He remembered us from all that time ago and seemed genuinely pleased to see us. He asked us not to leave our next visit for 28 years. We will return but not, we fear, to Las Rozas.
Notice by the pool is still there
It was a naturist site and the notice by the pool is still there ….
La tienda
…. but the shop is empty.
-Sorry about the quality of the old photos which we have had to scan.
Restaurant area of El Brindi Negro
We are happy to support and publicise new businesses during these difficult economic times especially when they offer value, quality and originality.
Fiona, Margaret and Chic sitting outside
Today we enjoyed a light lunch at El Brindi Negro, a new restaurant in Las Negras.
Hanging from the terrace above
????
A corner table
Outside, you are greeted by some weird pieces of conceptual art and inside the decor is colourful and quirky.
Tapas – prawn kebab
Negrita – goat’s cheese
The food is original, delicious and beautifully presented. The tapas are very different from what you would expect in a Spanish bar and raciones, called mini negritas, are equal to a main course.
Julio behind the bar
El Brindi Negro is located in the last street of the Cala Espuma urbanisation in Las Negras, about 50 metres from the beach. Please try it. You will not be disappointed.
Waves breaking 1
The Levante wind has been blowing today and although the breeze has not been very strong the sea is always choppy on our coast when the Levante blows.
Waves breaking 2
I took some photos today of waves breaking over the rocks at rodalquilar and decided to play with them
Waves breaking 3
These three photos have all been played with in photoshop to create different effects.
If you click on the photos they will enlarge.
On the sea wall
Today is San Isidro. It is a public holiday in Madrid and in the Municipality of Nijar which includes the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata.
Outside the diving centre
It is also ADAY when people throughout the world are supposed to upload 10 photos of daily life where they live – www.aday.org.
Beach and boat
I only had an hour to spare this morning so I rushed down to Las Negras to take some photos.
Aventura Las Negras
It was quiet but I think I captured the atmosphere.
Old man and the sea
Here are some pics which I may upload to ADAY or I might take some more later.
No B(P)arking
Enjoying a paddle
Chilling out
Menu
Restaurant Las Barcas
The Diving centre
